butchlambert
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Ammo is pretty expensive. Has anybody fooled with it?
Anythoughts on reloading the 5.7X28?
- Thread starter butchlambert
- Start date
Found an couple of interesting articles/journey on reloading the 5.7x28mm. Summary - PITA to reload and requires extra care...thin case walls that separate easily, difficult to clean cases because want to retain the factory lubricated case surface to assist in extraction, etc...
http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3297
https://loaddata.com/articles/PDF/LD-17 Pearce LR1.pdf
I collected a couple thousand of these spent cases when the FN pistol first came out for possible future build of a small varmint rifle. However, I decided that the case was just a little too small for my hands... I'd end up with arthritis trying to reload it. I decided that a Fireball/Vartarg case was as small as I cared to handle.
http://www.dayattherange.com/?page_id=3297
https://loaddata.com/articles/PDF/LD-17 Pearce LR1.pdf
I collected a couple thousand of these spent cases when the FN pistol first came out for possible future build of a small varmint rifle. However, I decided that the case was just a little too small for my hands... I'd end up with arthritis trying to reload it. I decided that a Fireball/Vartarg case was as small as I cared to handle.
matthias
Gold $$ Contributor
There are several good conversions and a few that actually work well.
Encore, savage ,remington 700 and 580, h&r handirifle all work as single shots
581 with custom built mags are ok.
Savage 340 with custom mags
I have built all of the rifles listed above and some work better than others. I am currently on v2 of a newer conversion that shows great promise with a reliable easily modified magazine.
Encore, savage ,remington 700 and 580, h&r handirifle all work as single shots
581 with custom built mags are ok.
Savage 340 with custom mags
I have built all of the rifles listed above and some work better than others. I am currently on v2 of a newer conversion that shows great promise with a reliable easily modified magazine.
matthias
Gold $$ Contributor
The 22 tcm has it's own set of issues. Brass is pretty soft and very inconsistent. Also run Into issues cracking necks after one or two reloads .
The 5.7 brass fired through blow back guns gets its butt kicked. And because of that doesn't have a real long life. In a bolt action brass is quite long lived.
The 5.7 brass fired through blow back guns gets its butt kicked. And because of that doesn't have a real long life. In a bolt action brass is quite long lived.
I bought a set of dies to reload it and had a new FN 5 seven in lay-a-way then our range banned the round because the bullet were going through the traps. Never got the gun still have the dies for sale in the for sale section.
CubCouper
Gold $$ Contributor
Hi Butch,
I can't speak to reloading for a pistol, but the process for a rifle is normal and dirt-cheap!
I snagged a deal on a project-gone-south, and picked up a reamer, modified 700 bolt, dies, and a huge bag (1800+ pieces) of brass. I tumbled the brass (about 500 pcs at a time) in a rotary tumbler with stainless pin media for about 6 hours to clean it up. On 95% of the cases, that was enough to complete knock the polymer coatings off it and shine it up. After that, it was load development and reloading per my normal benchrest workflow. I bought a Wilson 22cal seater blank and and used the chamber reamer to make the seating die. A little post processing converted it to a micrometer top and it works fabulous.
I have to say that this has been one of the most fun and surprising rifles I've built in awhile. Granted, the 700 action is way too big, and feeding it really sucks (think singleshot, square face, down inside a pipe!_). I've been experimenting with a 3D printed, flexible feed ramp and that effort is showing some promise!
It shoots awesome. I'm running 10.6 grains of Lil'Gun behind a Sierra 40HP ($15/100!) and consistently getting 3000 +/- 20 fps with recoil and noise about equivalent to a 22Mag rimfire. I added a two-stage muzzle brake just for fun -- it really didn't change the performance at all. It is easily a 3/8-1/2" rifle (by BR standards, not the 3-shot, wallet group standard) -- reliable enough that I've shot several flies with it at 100 yards. (http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/5-7x28-fun.3975363/).
The tiny case is sensitive to powder adjustments -- a 1/10 too much or too little will throw it out of tune. I just weigh all the charges on a little GemPro 250, tare the case, drop the powder then make small adjustments.
The barrel is a 24" Shilen and the rifle is currently sporting a new stock. It is my go-to prairie dog buster for anything out to about 200 yards. (The 20 VarTarg isn't even fair for the close ones!)
Rod
I can't speak to reloading for a pistol, but the process for a rifle is normal and dirt-cheap!
I snagged a deal on a project-gone-south, and picked up a reamer, modified 700 bolt, dies, and a huge bag (1800+ pieces) of brass. I tumbled the brass (about 500 pcs at a time) in a rotary tumbler with stainless pin media for about 6 hours to clean it up. On 95% of the cases, that was enough to complete knock the polymer coatings off it and shine it up. After that, it was load development and reloading per my normal benchrest workflow. I bought a Wilson 22cal seater blank and and used the chamber reamer to make the seating die. A little post processing converted it to a micrometer top and it works fabulous.
I have to say that this has been one of the most fun and surprising rifles I've built in awhile. Granted, the 700 action is way too big, and feeding it really sucks (think singleshot, square face, down inside a pipe!_). I've been experimenting with a 3D printed, flexible feed ramp and that effort is showing some promise!
It shoots awesome. I'm running 10.6 grains of Lil'Gun behind a Sierra 40HP ($15/100!) and consistently getting 3000 +/- 20 fps with recoil and noise about equivalent to a 22Mag rimfire. I added a two-stage muzzle brake just for fun -- it really didn't change the performance at all. It is easily a 3/8-1/2" rifle (by BR standards, not the 3-shot, wallet group standard) -- reliable enough that I've shot several flies with it at 100 yards. (http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/5-7x28-fun.3975363/).
The tiny case is sensitive to powder adjustments -- a 1/10 too much or too little will throw it out of tune. I just weigh all the charges on a little GemPro 250, tare the case, drop the powder then make small adjustments.
The barrel is a 24" Shilen and the rifle is currently sporting a new stock. It is my go-to prairie dog buster for anything out to about 200 yards. (The 20 VarTarg isn't even fair for the close ones!)
Rod
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